Taylor Swift attack plot in Austria linked to Istanbul attack plans
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (AFP Photo)
A Daesh-linked suspect arrested for planning an attack at Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna has revealed that one of his accomplices traveled to Istanbul as part of a broader plot targeting multiple cities, Turkish and Austrian authorities confirmed.
Investigation continues into Istanbul suspect
According to information obtained from Austria’s Krone Zeitung newspaper by DW Turkish, the 19-year-old suspect in Austrian custody disclosed that one of his co-conspirators flew to Istanbul with the intent of carrying out an attack.
However, details about the suspect’s identity and specific attack plans remain unknown.
“Turkish authorities and international law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the case, though no evidence of any attack attempts has been found in Istanbul during the specified period,” a security source said.
The planned Istanbul operation was allegedly part of a coordinated series of attacks scheduled for March 11, 2024 — the first day of Ramadan — targeting multiple cities, including Dubai and Mecca.
The suspects allegedly pledged allegiance to Daesh through Snapchat in February 2024 before developing concrete plans.
The revelation comes as part of an expanded investigation that began with the arrest of the main suspect in Austria, whose alleged plot to attack Swift’s Vienna concerts led to the cancellation of three shows that had sold approximately 195,000 tickets
